Graeme Souness breaks down in tears as he reveals huge donation from Sir Alex Ferguson

An emotional Graeme Souness has revealed Sir Alex Ferguson donated £20,000 towards his remarkable fundraiser for Debra UK.

At the age 70, Souness completed a brutal swim across the English channel in 12 hours and 17 minutes on Sunday.

The Liverpool legend has raised more than £1.2million for a charity that supports individuals and families affected by epidermolysis bullosa (EB).

EB is a painful rare condition that causes blistering skin. Souness, who stepped down as a pundit for Sky Sports last month, was inspired to take on the gruelling challenge after meeting Isla Grist, a 14-year-old girl who is living with EB.

Souness completed the swim alongside five others, including Isla's dad Andy

Souness said: "I hope I don’t embarrass him by saying this, but Alex Ferguson donated £20,000 after he quizzed me on it for half an hour. He’s got a heart of gold, that man. You have to search for it, but it’s there!"

Souness added: From the time I have spent with Isla and her family, I have seen first-hand the extreme pain this devastating condition causes and the daily challenges it creates.

"I wanted to do something that could make a difference to Isla’s life and to the lives of so many others living with EB, and the slightly crazy idea of swimming the English Channel was suggested... Please join me in supporting Debra's A Life Free of Pain appeal."